Rift Valley High

Hi again! Hope that everyone is having a great week!

I am coming off of a great weekend so am still on a bit of a high! We are allowed to have weekends off here and so most of the residents/med students that come over here spend that time traveling around Kenya. This past weekend we (seven of my colleagues and I) made a little trip to Lake Baringo, famous for its birdwatching (over 450 species!!!) as well as its frequent croc and hippo sightings. It was a beautiful 2-3 hour drive through the Rift Valley, with breathtaking views, lush vegetation, and steep roads where many Kenyan marathoners have trained. When we got to the lake, we then boarded a boat out to where we were staying at Island Camp. I had heard that we would be staying in “permanent tents” but I just couldn’t really picture this… The “rooms” were basically two-person tents with beds, a concrete floor, a grass hutch roof (like a hut) and a bathroom with running water. There was also a porch area out in front of each tent with amazing views of the island and mountains in the background. What a site to wake up to in the morning! The eight of us were basically the only people in the camp besides the employees (I think there was pretty much a 1:1 ratio of guests to employees!) so we really felt that we got the royal treatment. We enjoyed the weekend, spending time both at the pool relaxing and having a boat tour around the island. The biology dork in me really came out as I especially enjoyed the diverse wildlife and plant life! I saw many different species of birds, 2 crocs, a monitor, several lizards, and a hippo—all the span of 24 hours! So fun!!! There are also other indigenous people that live on the island and we saw many villages while on the boat tour. Often times there were people down by the shore fishing or washing clothes. It made me think of just how different my life is from those of these people… Not better, not worse… just different.

It did happen to rain quite a bit while we were on the island and on the way back, there was a place in the road that was underwater. Our driver assured us that this would not be a problem and we (possibly naively?) believed him. He did tell us our feet and luggage might get wet, which maybe should have been a warning sign for us! As we approached, we were all devising ways to get out of the “matatu” (basically a van from 1970) in case it was washed away and quoting Kenya’s new patron saint, Barack Obama, saying “Yes we can!” I was thinking of all the times I had been told not to drive through water you couldn’t see the bottom of… This water was probably up about 2-3 feet, rushing through a river bed, and the bottom was DEFINITELY NOT visible. Needless to say, our driver got us through in one dry piece, just as he said he would! Who comes to Africa to play is safe anyways? ;-)

The drive back was made even more beautiful by the rain as we spotted numerous waterfalls through the mountains. The landscape in this country is just so incredible and I know that words and pictures do it no justice. I think it is something you just have to be lucky enough to see for yourself… And I am so thankful everyday that I am able to experience this amazing adventure!

One of the other things that I have found remarkable is the extent of western influence on what appears to me to be the middle of nowhere Africa! As we drove the almost 3 hours, the driver was listening to the radio. We were entertained by such artists as Whitney Houston (I have to admit, I am a fan!), Celine Dion (Canada counts!), Peter Cetera, and Bett Midler! It cracked me up! And I actually saw a man wearing a Vanderbilt sweatshirt in the middle of Rift Valley! Now how strange is that?!? I tried to talk some SEC football with him but he wasn’t having any of it… Hmmm.

Anyways, one week down already! Six more to go! And so much left to learn and explore about this place… I’ll never be able to fit it all in! Guess I’ll have to plan a return trip! Who’s coming with me? ;-) Love to you all!